Hematopoietic elements in cerebrospinal fluid in children.

Immature hematopoietic elements have been identified in eight Wright-stained cytocentrifuge preparations of lumbar puncture-derived cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from infants and children. These immature hematopoietic elements probably represent contamination from vertebral bone marrow. Recognition that the nucleated cells in the CSF are a contaminant and not indicative of infection or leukemia is important to the immediate care of the child. The only adverse clinical sequela of this contamination identified has been a transient headache. Bone marrow contaminants are one of several abnormalities of CSF found in childhood diseases and may or may not elevate the CSF white blood cell count. This supports the need for pathologist review of all CSF cytocentrifuge preparations from children.